Billet marker



Feb; 18,1941. L G. HOFFMAN 2,232,528

B I LLE'I MARKER Filed Jan. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zwijn/vz@ Feb. 18,1941. G. HoFFMAN 2,232,528

BILLET MARKER Filed Jan'. 19, 1939 '2 sheets-sheet 2 129:5 zg-ff:

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Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE i BILLET MARKERGustav Hoffmann, Chicago, Ill. Application January 19, 1939, Serial No.251,686

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a billet marker or changeable serial multipleWheel metal marking device, machine, or press marker for use on productsof metal, such as alloy steel, forgings, castings or'various othermaterials where quick marking is desirable.

The primary purpose of the invention is to provide a novel billet orpress marker of the above character whereby the serial can be inlOstantly, quickly and simply changed and held positively in adjusted orset position, a wide V-ariation of characters and serial numbers beingrendered possible with one holder, loss of figure or letter type or diesbeing avoided as well as loss4 of time in hunting for lost characters asfrequently occurs with markers having removable and individualcharacters instead of marking wheels or discs bearing the-variousfigures or letters adapted` to be set for the various particular serialsor combinations desired.

A further important object of the invention is to provide novel metaldiscs bearing the characters on the peripheral edges thereof and each ablank space for a hiatus in the serial number at a decimal or othersuitable point in making up different combinations, together with meansreleasable from either side for easy adjustment of the discs or markingwheels thereof as desired especially where space or room at one side iscrowded or limited and does not permit a projection at that side, andnovel means for locking and holding the various discs or marking Wheelsin adjusted positions to prevent movement or shifting thereof whenadjusted so that the serial number will not become accidentally changed,only one disc being turned at a time to step or change a serial quickly,while the others are securely held and remain locked aft-er which the olocking bar or key is reset to lock al1 the discs against rotation foruse, all mechanism being foolproof and enclosed to protect the same fromdamage due to rough handling in use and against the entry of dust ordirt between the wheels to interfere with their operation or adjustment,while capable of being readily uncovered and rendered accessible for anypurpose.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter and be brought outmore fully in the following specification, wherein:

Fig. lis a front elevation of the marking tool;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the removable COVGI';

Fig. 5 is a sectional view Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a disc;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the locking key; 'and Y Fig. 10 is a detailview` showing a modied disc locking means.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the billet marker orchangeable serial multiple wheel metal marking device or press marker isshown as comp-rising a body in the form of a head or stock IIJpreferably made of hardened tool steel and of any suitable shape,preferably hollow and having a handle or shank Il of any suitable typeand cross sect-ion; that is, the shank may be `made in different stylessuch as with an eye I2 for a hammer handle or as a hand stamper withoutthe eye or as a press marker with a round, square or rectangular shankor with flat sides and rounded corners and tapered formation as shown,with a transverse slot or eye I2 for connection with an operatingmember.` The front and rear and the side faces are shown flattened as atI3 and I4 respectively and the head or stock is shown as recessed,hollowed out or forked at its lower end as at I5 to provide parallelside jaws or bearings I6 having a transversely concaved arcuate innerend wall or bight portion I1 between said jaws concentric to the centersof the, bearing holes IB in the jaws or bearings I6 in which a spindle,disc supporting member, impact bearing pin or shaft I9 is mounted tospan or extend across the recess I5 as seen particularly in Figs. 5 and6 of the drawings. A plurality of flat metal marking wheels or discs 20preferably of toolsteel are provided with axial holes 2I by which theyare mounted to turn on the shaft or -mounting pin I9 forming the axisthereof, the discs being shown iive in number in the form of the deviceillustrated and mounted snugly but loosely in contact and within oragainst the opposed inner faces of the jaws or 45 bearings I6; see Fig.6;

The peripheral edges of the discs 20 are provided or formed with aplurality of equidistantly spaced flat faces 22 constituting chords ofarcs of the circle of the discs and all bearing circumferentiallyextending characters or type 23 consisting of numbers, letters orotherwise, used in serials, numbers or other identifying indicia, exceptone face on each disc which is left flat, plain or'smooth without acharacter to provide a hiatus 55 on the line 45--5 of the line 1-1 of 5on each disc whereby a blank space may be left in the marking at any oneof the 'discs as it is thought will be appreciated. The spaces betweenthe at faces are provided with peripherally or circumferentially arcuatetransverse recesses 24 and the shaft I9 is held against endwise axial orlongitudinal movement in any suitable way as by collars or washers 25 onthe projecting ends of the shaft against the fiat faces I4 and held bysuitable retaining means such as keys or cotter pins 23 passed throughdiametrical holes through the shaft.

The body, stock or head I0 is provided with a transverse passage or ovalslot 21 parallel to the shaft I9 and in vertical alignment with the axisthereof and plane of the recess I1 through the wall of which it extendsor communicates with the cut out and through the jaws I6 and has itsends flared out or provided with circular recesses 28 in the flat facesI4 around the ends of the passage 21. A fiat sided key 29, preferably ofoval cross section lts the passage or slot 21 to freely sli-de thereinand has flat opposed sides 30, a round top edge 3| fitting an'dconforming to the corresponding side of the slot and a centrallongitudinal and preferably transversely con-r vex or rounded rib 32 onthe opposite or bottom edge extending into the recess I5 at the end wallI1, to enter the alined concaved recesses or depressions 24 in themarking discs or wheels 20 to thereby hold the latter against rotationwhile the shoulders adjacent the rib 32 on each side of the key 29 arespaced or set in from the sides 30 of the key and engage the ends offlat faces 22 but also spaced from the ends of the type 23 to preventinjury to the latter or jamming 0f the key as seen in Fig. 5. The rib 32is provided with two longitudinally spaced transverse notches 33normally positioned outwardly of the discs as seen in Fig. 6,equidistantly spaced from the ends thereof and the key, but eachslightly longer than the thickness of a disc, but by movement one at atime adapted each to be aligned with three ofthe discs 20 at each sideincluding the central disc with which either slot or notch 33 mayregister by shifting the key lengthwise in opposite directions throughthe slot or passage 21 of the head or body I0 by merely pushing with afinger against an end thereof. The key 29 is longer than the width orthickness of the tool or marker head I0 to project from the faces I4 atits ends when in a normally central position, so that it may beprojected at either side when the other side is crowded or where thespace or room at one side is limited. The key is provided on one of itssides or flat faces with a centrally arranged series of equidistantlyspaced oval or circular recesses or notches forming seats 34 and on theopposite side with a similarly positioned but slightly longer concavedrecess, groove or elongated seat 35, the end walls 36 of which formstops, as will be later described.

Bores or sockets 31 are provided in'axial or longitudinal alignmenttransversely in the walls of the head I0 on opposite sides of the slotor passage 21 in line with the recesses or seats 34 and 35 and arethreaded at their outer ends as at 38. A ball 39 is movably located atthe inner end of each bore to engage seats 34 and 35 against each ofwhich is a follower cylinder 40 engaged by a spring '4I on which ascrew-threaded nut or adjusting plug 42 acts, being threaded in thethreaded ends 38 and having each a wrench socket 43 by which it may beturned to adjust the tension of thespring to adjust the 'key lockingmeans, detent, pawl holding means or spring catch formed by thespring-pressed ball. One pawl engages the notches 34 to hold or lock thekey in any adjusted position and the other engages the groove 35 tolimit the movements of the key in opposite directions and preventaccidental total displacement thereof by engagement with the stopsformed by the end walls 36. 'Ihere are seven seats or notches 34 and thepawl or spring pressed ball engaging the same holds the key inadjustedposition in alinement with any one of the discs at the notches or slots33, that is, one slot with three discs at each side so that any and onlyone marking wheel or disc may be turned at a time toy quickly change theserial marking as desired while the others are held against rotation,the change being simply, easily and quickly accomplished and loss oftime in looking for type characters avoided.

The jaws I 6 preferably have aligned fiat or straight ends 44 in thesame transverse plane from which the serial characters 23 project andthe side edges of the jaws at the corners are rounded or beveled as at45 in angular formation to form seats, stops or shoulders. The oppositefiat faces I3 parallel to each other and at right angles to the faces I4are provided with shallow recesses 46 over the plugs 42 which are thusset in or depressed from the normal faces I3, the inner ends and sidesof the recesses 45 being preferably undercut or dovetailed as at 41 and48 respectively. The sides 48 are undercut to the inner ends of theangular portions 45 and then right angular and the undercut grooves orguideways thus formed slidably receive `cover plates 49 having beveledinner ends 59 land beveled side edges 5I to fit the undercut ordovetailed inner ends 41 and sides 48 of the grooves, respectively,while the ends are obtuse angular as at 52 to -t the right angulargrooves or seats at the angular portions 45 to set iiush with the outerfaces and the ends of the angular portions 52 are beveled or flat as at53 to lie in alinement or iiush with the flat ends `44 of the jaws andforma rectangular opening 54 at the operative end of the marker throughwhich three rows of characters o n the discs are visible as seen in Fig.3. These plates cover and help ,to render the mechanism ,foolproof andenclose the movable partis, keep out dust and dirt and prevent themechanism and characters from being damaged from rough handling ,inservice. Threaded bores or holes 55 are provided in the cover plates 49to align with threaded sockets 56 in the tapered walls of the headformed by I1 spaced from the sockets or bores 31 to make threaded plugsor nuts 51 having wrench sockets 58 like the wrench sockets 43 in thenuts or plugs 42 for taking a polysided wrench yto remove or tighten theplugs. The plates are thus secured in position over the plugs 42 of thespring pressed pawls or catches 39 so that they may not be tampered withafter proper adjustment for use.

In theuse andoperation of the device, all that is necessary is to applythe device vto the metal to 'be marked and to strike the same aneffective blow. V/'hen it is desired to change the marking, serial orindicia formed by a row of characters at the exposed peripheral portionsof the discs, it is only necessary to press thekey -29 in from one sideof the device to cause it to beheld by each successive engagement oftheb all39 thereof in the seats '34 to correspondingly free each disc atone side and in the center and, then by reversing the movement orpushing in the opposite the arcuate recess or end wall I v has alreadybeen set.

`transversely convex or rounded ribs endI of the key 29, but only twoadjustments be# yond the center are necessary as the center disc This,of cou-rse, will'vary with vthe number of discs or marker` wheelsemployed. `The other spring pressed pawl or ball will ride in the groove35 and by striking the ends 35,- will' limit the opposite'movements anddisplacement of the key and degree of projection thereof beyond thatrequired'for moving either of the recesses or slots 33 into alignmentwith the respective discs, so that the latter may be turned to anyserial required. 1 V l The metal ydiscs or marking wheels bearingnumbers, letters or other indicia on the periphery thereof are the sameas any .numbering orstamping-machine or a date stamp, except that themetaldiscs are formed with the numbers-.letters or other charactersintegral therewith and offset outwardly from thevequidistantly spacedflat faces 22 on the periphery with concave arcuate transverse recessesor seats therebetween and each disc may be individually turned on theshaft without turning theothers and while the latter are held againstrotation and translation. The char acters when turned to the exposedposition at the center of the` opening 54 project from the end of thetool to engagevthe work to be stamped.

By having the nose or open end of the body or stock l0 beveled orrounded at the sides or bottom corners and the open end straight or flatat the edges 64 and 53, with the characters outstanding or projectingabout one-sixteenth of an inch in practice, the exposed row ofcharacters will lieflat and in a straight line, and proper impressionthereof in the work will be insured even though the device may bedirected or struck at a slight angle or the tool slightly canted. Inthis respect, the device is self straightening or aligning but ampleprotection is given to the working parts and wheels by the jaws I6 andplate 49, though accuracy is insured by the edges 44 and 53 being inalignment or in the same plane. Also, it will be noted that a single rib32 is employed on the disc locking key 29 where there are an unevennumber of flat faces 22, an even number of characters 23 and an unevennumber of intermediate or alternate grooves 24 on the peripheries of thediscs, a groove or recess being provided diametrically opposite eachcharacter so that the latter will 'be in a central or proper positionwhen held for marking.

In Fig. 10 the key 59 works and is the same as the key 29, except thatit has a central longitudinal groove 60 to accommodate the charactersand a plurality; i. e. a pair of spaced and preferably 6l along itsedges designed to engage a corresponding plurality; i. e., a pair ofsomewhat narrower grooves or .depressions 62 in the discs 63 between thecharacters 64 compared to grooves 24. This form is used where there isan even number of at faces like faces 22, and uneven number ofcharacters and an even number of grooves on the peripheries of the discswith the characters diametrically opposite each other and the groovesalternating with the characters, but .also diametrically opposite eachother. In both instances, the discs will be firmly held in accuratemarking position and are released in the same manner as with the key 29.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention, I, therefore, do not wish tobelirnited to the precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsandmodifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

` Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Batent is:

V 1.' A multiple wheel metal marking device comprising'a stock having ashank and spaced jaws,

a shaft Asupported in the jaws and held against endwise movement, metaldiscs on the shaft between the jaws and adapted to turn thereon, saiddiscs having spaced peripheral surfaces certain thereof havingcharacters thereon projecting therefrom', a key slidable through thestock having a plurality of notches spaced apart a distance equal atleast to the axial extent of the several discs and adapted for alignmentwith individual discs lto permit turning thereof upon sliding the key toopposite sides of the central position, and means on the key to engagethe other or .all the discs to simultaneously hold the same againstturning.

2. In a marker of the class described, a body having spaced bearings, ashaft mounted therein, marking discs on the shaft and .all having spacedcharacters on their peripheries with alternate re.. cesses 'anda hiatusbetween at least two recesses, a' locking bar slidable in a passagethrough the body to hold .all discs against turning and having notchesspaced apart the axial extent of the discs adapted to be placed inalignment with certain discs to permit turning thereof singly, coactingmeans between the body and bar to hold the bar in position to align anotch with each disc, and means coacting between the body and one sideof the bar to prevent displacement of the bar endwise and limit themovements thereof in opposite directions.

3. A billet marker having a body portion, a spindle carried thereby, aplurality of character discs on the spindle and having spaced transverseperipheral seats between the characters, a key slidable through the bodyportion and held against turning, a longitudinal groove in the key theends of which terminate short of the ends of the key to form stops,means carried by the body and engaging the groove to limit theprojection of the ends of the key from the body by engagement with thestops, said key having a rib engaging the seats of the discs to hold thelatter against rotation, the rib having a plurality of recesses to alignwith the discs and release each of the discs individually in diierentpositions of the key and to lie outside the discs whereby the rib willengage and hold all the discs, said key having a plurality ofdepressions and means engageable with said depressions to hold the keyin each of said positions.

4. A billet marker including a body having a cutout forming spacedparallel jaws, a plurality of flat discs rotatably mounted therein incontact between the jaws and bearing spaced characters with groovestherebetween on their peripheries, and .a slidable key mounted throughthe body and having a rib to enter4 the grooves of the discs andlongitudinally spaced transverse notches spanning the discs and coactingbetween the body and the grooves of the discs, said rib adapted to holdall of the discs against rotation when the key is in a central positionand the notches adapted to align with a disc to individually release thesame for rotative .adjustment while holding the others when slid toopposite sides of a central position.

5. A billet marker including a body having a. cutout forming spacedjaws, a plurality of flat discs rotatably mounted therein supported bythe jaws land bearing characters on their peripheries with interveningdepressed seats, a slidable key mounted entirely through the bodyindependent of the mounting of the discs and having an intermediateportion coacting between the body and discs to engage and hold all ofthe discs against rotation when in a central position, said key havingnotches outwardly of the intermediate portion to align with a disc toindividually release the discs upon shifting the key in oppositedirections Ato align a notch with a disc, means coacting between thebody and key to limit the displacement of the key and removable coverplates over the latter means at opposite sides of the cutout.

6. In a marker of the class described, a body having spaced bearings, ashaft mounted therein, marking discs on the shaft and all having spacedcharacters on their peripheries with alternate recesses, a locking baroppositely slidable in a passage through the body independently of theshaft and having spaced notches spanning the discs yand adapted to beplaced in alignment with certain discs one at a time to permit turningthereof, ooacting means between the body at the passage and one side ofthe bar to hold the bar in several positions to align a notch with eachdisc',y coacting means between the body at the passage and the otherside of the bar to limit the sliding of the bar in opposite directions,cover plates slidably retained on the body and covering the spacebetween the bearings, said plates extending into alignment with the freeends of the bearings and means to detachably secure the plates inposition over both of said coacting means.

7. A billet marker including a body having jaws, discs rotatablysupported between the jaws, said discs having an even number of spacedperipheral characters and alternate spaced depressions below and betweenthe pairs of characters and a locking bar carried by the body and havinga plurality of spaced ribs to engage the depressions o n opDOsite sidesof a. character to hold the discs against rotation and a longitudinalgroove between the ribs to accommodate the rows of characters, said ribshaving recesses spaced by a distance equal at least to the axial extentof the several discs.

Witnesses to mark:

ERICH HOFFMANN, JOSHUA R. H. POTTS, AASTA E. MATSEN.

his GUSTAV X HOFFMANN.

mark

